"Why, Mother, how can you think of such a thing? Not more than six or eight
will probably come, so I shall hire a beach wagon and borrow Mr. Laurence's
cherry-bounce." (Hannah's pronunciation of char-a-banc.)
"All of this will be expensive, Amy.""Not very. I've calculated the cost, and I'll pay for it myself.""Don't you think, dear, that as these girls are used to such things, and the best
we can do will be nothing new, that some simpler plan would be pleasanter to
them, as a change if nothing more, and much better for us than buying or
borrowing what we don't need, and attempting a style not in keeping with our
circumstances?"
"If I can't have it as I like, I don't care to have it at all. I know that I can carry
it out perfectly well, if you and the girls will help a little, and I don't see why I
can't if I'm willing to pay for it," said Amy, with the decision which opposition
was apt to change into obstinacy.
Mrs. March knew that experience was an excellent teacher, and when it was
possible she left her children to learn alone the lessons which she would gladly
have made easier, if they had not objected to taking advice as much as they did
salts and senna.
"Very well, Amy, if your heart is set upon it, and you see your way through
without too great an outlay of money, time, and temper, I'll say no more. Talk it
over with the girls, and whichever way you decide, I'll do my best to help you."
"Thanks, Mother, you are always so kind." and away went Amy to lay her
plan before her sisters.
Meg agreed at once, and promised her aid, gladly offering anything she
possessed, from her little house itself to her very best saltspoons. But Jo frowned
upon the whole project and would have nothing to do with it at first.
"Why in the world should you spend your money, worry your family, and
turn the house upside down for a parcel of girls who don't care a sixpence for
you? I thought you had too much pride and sense to truckle to any mortal
woman just because she wears French boots and rides in a coupe," said Jo, who,
being called from the tragic climax of her novel, was not in the best mood for